“Yes, you!” She bolted to her feet. “You’ve been distant all day! I mean, we’re both adults here. You can tell me you’re interested in Essie Park. It’s not like I’m going to break.”

He stared at her. “Essie Park? You think I’m interested in Essie Park?”

“Yes, the gorgeous woman you took to the fling two days ago? Ring a bell?” She rolled her eyes, a bad habit of Tansy’s she’d evidently picked up. “I understand if you have feelings for her. But that doesn’t mean we have to act like this at the office. Please be real with me. I’d rather just know so I can move on with my life. I’m not interested in playing games.”

Dan laughed, but it wasn’t a cheerful sort of chuckle. No, it was a sarcastic, frustrated laugh.

“I’m the one playing games?” He actually stalked across the waiting room and back, clearly rattled. “Renee, I’m crazy about you! The only reason I went to the fling with Essie was because you passed along her invitation and practically forced her on me.”

“What?” Renee shook her head. “But…but what was I supposed to think when she came by with that invitation? It wasn’t like you even tried to ask me. I know you’re new to dating and we’re too soon to be exclusive or anything, right?”

Dan ran a hand through his hair. “Contrary to what you may think, I’m not looking to sleep with every woman in town.”

Speechless, she stared down at the floor, unable to make eye contact with him. The next subject was a tough one to broach, so she tread lightly. “It isn’t just Essie. After we spent that night together you seemed a little weird. And then I saw you in your office…staring at a photo of Meggie.”

“Oh.” Dan folded into one of the chairs. It was a strange sight, seeing him sitting in the waiting room. He bent his head over his knees, intertwining his hands in front of them. “I see.”

“I just figured you might not be ready to commit to much yet.” Renee crossed her arms over her chest. “I worried you thought of our night together as some sort of mistake. I wondered if you were still mourning Meggie. Or if, I don’t know. Maybe I’m not the sort of woman Meggie would have wanted you to be with? I thought maybe that was why you were having reservations. It sounds like she was amazing, caring, altruistic—”

Dan held up his hands, willing her to stop. “She was all of those things and more. But you’re wrong about the other points. Meggie would have loved you. And she asked me to move on after her death. She made me pinkie promise.”

“Really?”